Teaching and Assessing Grammar
In the Writing Classroom
Purdue OWL staff
Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab
Assessing Grammar
Effectively
This presentation will cover:
 Ways to address grammar in the writing classroom.
 Methods of marking grammatical errors in student
papers.
 Grammar resources for students outside the
classroom.
Students and Grammar
Students’ relationship with grammar is often an antagonistic
one. They may believe that…
Grammar isn’t as
important as expression.
If they’re bad at grammar,
then they’re bad writers.
Writing is only a matter
of grammar.
Grammar in the
Classroom
However…
Grammar mistakes can distract the reader from their
ideas/expression.
Grammar affects a writer’s ethos:
• Did the writer seem educated?
• Did s/he appear to take the work seriously?
 Tools like spell check aren’t always accurate.
Grammar in the
Classroom
Methods of including grammar instruction:
Weekly “mini” lessons.
Student grammar presentations.
Conference “tutorials.”
Independent study guide and test.
Weekly Mini-Lessons
If your strength is lecture:
Choose a common error you’ve noticed in students’ papers
that week.
Illustrate the error in context.
• Bring photocopies of a paper excerpt.
• Work on an overhead copy.
Offer methods of recognizing the error.
Have students work in pairs on a sample text
Weekly Mini-Lessons
What to keep in mind with this approach:
Inform students early on that their papers will be used as
sample texts.
Don’t identify the writers of sample papers.
Nobody wants to be the “bad example.”
Give students a chance to identify/fix the error before you
give it away.
Let students do the work
Student Grammar
Presentations
If you’re a fan of group work:
Have students pair up and draw grammar topic from a hat.
On their scheduled day, each pair will:
• Give a 10-minute presentation.
• Create an accompanying handout for the class.
Encourage students to make presentations fun (quiz shows
with prizes, role playing, etc.).
Student Grammar
Presentations
What to keep in mind with this approach:
 Point students to resources like the OWL or a writing
handbook.
 Make sure students understand the grammatical jargon
they encounter/use. Will their audience understand it?
 Meet with pairs during conferences to preview their
presentations.
Student Grammar
Presentations
If you need to use conference time:
Address grammar one-on-one in context.
Using the student’s recent writing:
• Focus on one pattern of error at a time
• Have the student identify and correct the errors in
his/her own paper
• Model revision techniques/alternatives
Student Grammar
Presentations
What to keep in mind with this approach:
Don’t overwhelm the student. Focus on only one or two
errors per conference.
Give students a mini-assignment or goal for next time:
• Example: Eliminate comma splices in your next
paper.
• Example: Be able to summarize the rules for
semi-colon use.
Independent Study
Guide
If you’re a proponent of individual study:
Hand out a packet of grammar study materials at the
beginning of the semester.
Use a sample text each week to illustrate a grammar rule
from the packet.
Hold a class review session.
Schedule a test or quizzes over the materials
Independent Study
Guide
What to keep in mind with this approach:
 Give students opportunities to see the grammar rules
and concepts in context.
 Review rules and concepts in conferences.
 Have students work on sample texts in class.
Marking Grammatical
Errors
When you’re grading papers:
Focus on a pattern of error.
Correct only the first instance of an error.
Place a check mark in the margin beside the line where
the error occurs.
Discuss patterns during conferences.
Resist the urge to edit—let the student do the work!
Proofreading Strategies
Discuss proofreading strategies in class and encourage
students to:
1. Read their papers out loud.
2. Have a friend or roommate read it out loud while
they look on.
Proofreading Strategies
3. Read backwards (from last sentence to first) in order
to focus the brain on sentence-level error.
4. Print a paper copy and edit by hand. Give students
a handout of editorial symbols to help them.
Grading Follow-up
Tips:
1. Encourage students to review and work on their
errors:
2. Discuss errors during conferences.
3. Have each student review and summarize comments
on his/her paper.
4. How will s/he recognize and correct this error from
now on?
Where to Go for More
Help
Purdue University Writing Lab, Heavilon 226
Check our web site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Email brief questions to OWL Mail:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/contact/owlmailtutors
The End
TEACHING AND ASSESSING GRAMMAR
IN THE WRITING CLASSROOM
Purdue OWL staff
Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab